Shaw the ace of Bears' special teams

DETROIT - When the Bears lost Brendon Ayanbadejo in free agency, they had the need for a Pro Bowl-type special teams player.

They think they found that player on the street, so to speak. And in Sunday's 37-23 season-ending win over the Detroit Lions, linebacker Tim Shaw made the Bears glad they took a chance on him.

"There's been a lot of hard work, a lot of tough times and things like that," Shaw said. "That's just the NFL, I think. Ups and downs.

"You know, you've got to find your niche and earn your spots and take advantage of the opportunities."

Game day stats gave Shaw 6 special-teams tackles and a critical forced fumble that he also recovered after the Bears had gone up 34-23 on Jay Cutler's 12-yard touchdown pass to Devin Aromashodu.

Shaw had kick returner Derrick Williams wrapped up but kept reaching for the ball and got it out, then fell on it. The lost fumble sealed the verdict.

"It's been a goal of mine for probably the last month or two," Shaw said of forcing a fumble. "I've been talking about it with (coverage teammates). I've been talking about it before the game.

"I've been trying to get the ball out forever. Even during the game, at that point I had five or six tackles and I was like, 'I've got to get the ball out though.' But I just wrapped him up and I just said, 'Hey, might as well get the ball out.' And it just came out."

Special-teams coordinator Dave Toub has a point system for special-teams plays and the record is 32 points. He estimated Shaw might have had 40 points.

"It's a great job by (pro personnel director) Bobby DePaul," Toub said of landing Shaw. "I mean, he was on the street. He just keeps getting better and better each week. We're happy to have him. I'm glad he's coming back next year."

Shaw, who was second in special-teams tackles for the Carolina Panthers last year with 14, came into Sunday's game leading the Bears with 22 special-teams tackles even though he didn't play in two games.

"He's kind of taken over that role as being our ace special-teams player," coach Lovie Smith said. "Just his overall play for quite a while has been good for our special teams."

Getting the win and the forced fumble was special to Shaw because it came in front of a group of about 50 friends and family members. He is from Livonia, Mich., about 15 minutes from Ford Field.

"It's just cool that it all kind of came together today for me here," Shaw said.